A congressional committee has learned that former US President Donald Trump ignored his children and staff members who “begged him” to confront the crowd as he watched television at the White House during the Capitol brawl last year.
Adam Kinzinger, one of the two Republicans on the Democratic-led committee, stated that “he opted not to act.”
Mr. Trump allegedly didn’t make a single call to any national security or law enforcement personnel during the prime-time session.
The investigation claimed that his motivation was “his self-centered desire to maintain power.”
In its eighth session of the summer on Thursday, the House of Representatives Select Committee drew a chronology depicting Mr. Trump’s activities during 187 minutes on January 6, 2021, as a horde of his followers stormed Congress.
The panel alleges that Mr. Trump committed crimes to avenge his defeat to Democrat Joe Biden
The panel’s goal is to demonstrate that Mr. Trump, a Republican, engaged in criminal behavior to reverse his loss to Democrat Joe Biden in the general election of November 2020.
Members of the committee have said that there may be sufficient evidence to bring charges against Mr. Trump for offences. Including impeding a congressional procedure, conspiring to mislead the American people, or interfering with witnesses.
The Department of Justice would oversee any prospective prosecution of Mr. Trump. However, other analysts have asserted that it is improbable that Mr. Trump would ever go to trial since Attorney General Merrick Garland’s guidance mandates that prosecutors seek permission before beginning politically sensitive investigations.
Mr. Trump has called the inquiry a “kangaroo court”
The investigation has been criticized by Mr. Trump as a “kangaroo court.” He said its intended to divert attention away from the “disaster” of Democratic rule. Mr. Trump has said he may run for president again in 2024.
Former President Trump reportedly spent more than two and a half hours in the White House’s private dining room. He was watching Fox News coverage of the disturbance.
President Trump sat at his dining table and watched the assault on television. While his senior-most staff, closest advisers, and family members asked him to do what is required of any American president, said Elaine Luria, a Virginia Democrat on the committee.
Former White House national security official, the house is “in a state of disbelief.”
Additionally, the member said that the principal White House photographer had requested permission to snap photos during the historic occasion but had been denied.
According to a former White House national security worker, the officials in the executive mansion were “in a state of disbelief.”
A portion of Pat Cipollone’s filmed testimony claimed to have pressed for the president. In order to issue a forceful statement strongly denouncing the assault. It was also shown before the committee.
“I emphasised that people needed to be notified, and that there needed to be a public statement soon,” Mr. Cipollone recalled.
If Mr. Trump condemned the violence, he would be “giving the media the win.”
The committee learned that the president’s children, Ivanka Trump and Don Jr., had also asked him to stop the rioting.
Sarah Matthews is a former press assistant. She claimed during her testimony that an anonymous White House employee had argued that if Mr. Trump were to denounce the violence, it would be “giving the media the win.”
At about 14:24 on that day, Mr. Trump tweeted an assault on Mike Pence, his vice president. He claimed that Pence “didn’t have the fortitude to” refuse his constitutional obligation to recognize Mr. Biden’s victory in Congress.
The tweet, according to Ms. Matthews, amounted to “pouring fuel on the fire.” She and Matthew Pottinger are the president’s deputy national security advisor. Both admitted in court that the tweet was what ultimately led to their resignations.
At 16:17, Mr. Trump issued a video from the White House Rose Garden. In the video he lauded the rioters as “really special.” But urged them to disperse, three hours and seven minutes after the attack started.
“this guy of unfettered destructive force could not be moved”
The committee’s chairman is Mississippi Democrat Bennie Thompson. He stated in his opening remarks that “this guy of unfettered destructive force could not be moved” for 187 minutes on January 6.
The committee also played a never-before-seen video outtake of Mr. Trump condemning the violence at the Capitol the day before, on January 7.
During the tape, Mr. Trump was heard saying, “I don’t want to announce the election is over.” He appeared to be reading from a script.
As per the US polling, the hearings aren’t having much of an influence on Republican supporters’ perceptions of Mr. Trump personally.
According to a recent PBS poll, more than half of party members want the 76-year-old to be the Republican nominee for president in 2024. But only one in five believes the man should be prosecuted for what he did on January 6.
In the meantime, President Joe Biden’s support rating among Americans has dropped to only 37%, which is worse than it has ever been for Mr. Trump during his administration.
